CHASSIS #1008 SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: 1961 356B 1600 CARRERA ABARTH GTL CHASSIS #: 1008
COLORS: SILVER/BLACK
ENGINE: TYP 692/3A SN P96001

DELIVERED TO: SCANIA-VABIS, SWEDEN

Chassis #1008 is one of the most original Carrera Abarths in existence. It won two straight Swedish GT championships with eleven wins in 1961-62 and has covered only 17,074 kilometers since it left the production line.

Carl-Gunnar Hammarlund acquired this car through Porsche’s Swedish distributor, ScaniaBilar, to race the 1961 Swedish
GT Championship series. Hammarlund, whose nickname was “Ce-Ge’, was head of public relations for British Petroleum in Stockholm. His mechanic Willy Dolling set up the Abarth and improved steering response. “During a test we found that, during acceleration, the nose lifted slightly and the front wheels lost traction a little,” Dolling told Racing magazine, a Swedish motorsport journal. “With around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) added in the nose, it went faster and was more nimble in and out of curves.”

Hammarlund’s driving style complemented Dolling’s set- up: “Behind the wheel he was fast and very precise, but not a spectator’s favorite,” Racing reported. “While most of the other Porsche drivers were sliding about, Hammarlund simply drove away from them without any fuss. He always had his car in perfect trim.”

Hammarlund met great success in this car, winning the GT Championship twice, and accomplishing 11 victories in 11 starts. Incredibly during its racing career, the car never crashed. With the exception of tires, shock absorbers, front kingpin bushings, a new clutch and taillights, it is essentially the same car in which Hammarlund outdrove countless other Swedish competitors in 1961 and 1962.

1008 entered the consciousness of California restorer

and vintage racer Steve Tillack in 1992, not long after he learned that the vast car collection of fugitive Swedish real estate financier Hans Thulin was being liquidated. While negotiating with Thulin’s creditor banks, Tillack was tipped off about another private collection. He had been looking for a GTL and had compiled a list of the known surviving chassis and where they were located.

“None of those in the States were for sale,” he recalls. “But then, by chance, I learned one of two cars in Sweden might be available.” A magazine ad described the car: “8th of 19, engine #92001, silver/black, 12,000 original km, two owners from new, Swedish World Championship car, factory- sponsored. Museum stored for many years, still near show quality.”

Tillack contacted the Stockholm-based broker to learn more, and his contemporaneous notes summarized his findings: “Reputed works car used by factory and Swedish agent ScaniaBilar. Driven by CG Hammarlund, won numerous Swedish championships and Finnish GP, maintained by

the same mechanic from new. Represented as the perfect original, 95 percent original paint, never crashed.” As
their correspondence continued, Tillack received a large number of faxed documents and photographs, including several showing the car in street trim, wearing hubcaps. He promptly flew over to see the car.

Tillack made a total of three trips to Sweden, sometimes accompanied by Los Angeles Porsche expert Werner

Schoch. He says a bizarre bidding war ensued, as two other bidders were interested. “The bank that held the title put
us up in different hotels and spoke to us individually by telephone. I soon learned the other bidders were located across the Norrstrom River from my hotel — and we could all see one another’s rooms! I was able to make contact with them and, as we all were unhappy with the bid-by-phone arrangement, we agreed to meet the bank’s representative face-to-face. He was quite shocked when we all entered the room and sat down.”

Eventually, Tillack proved the successful bidder. Ocean shipment was arranged, with the car leaving Stockholm on April 7, 1992. Tillack met the containerized Porsche at the docks in Oakland, California on June 15. Once the car was in his Redondo Beach shop, it received a thorough inspection, which revealed worn-out shocks and front kingpin bushings.

Cosmetically, says Tillack, 1008 is close to original. He has only replaced some minor items such as taillight lenses,
and he installed a new clutch. A close examination reveals interesting details. For example, there’s no evidence that
the car was ever equipped with a roll-bar — an interesting omission considering Hammarlund’s concern for automotive safety.

CeGe raced in a different time, though. Tillack has resisted the urge to install a roll bar. Though the car has run a number of vintage races since its arrival in the U.S., he seems committed to maintaining 1008 as it was rather than how today’s sensibilities expect it to be.